9 Spectacular Shelves You’d Love To Flaunt

The best shelf units combine utility with beauty, offering space for everyday storage needs but also distinguishing themselves visually.

One of the most appealing facets about modern shelves is their diversity: some are massive and meant to hold a large number of possessions, others are modest in size and serve to organize our belongings without demanding too much space, and then there are those which exist simply because they're beautiful.

What follows are 9 examples of every type of shelf listed above, each with their own advantages, and each remarkable in its own way.

Our first example aims for a dignified look. The use of three asymmetrical levels allows these shelves to distinguish themselves through their very unevenness while also serving a more functional role: to hold possessions.

But since the items appear more decorative than utilitarian, it reveals how the shelves are meant for beauty rather than practical usage.

Speaking of toys, this next example features some really famous ones. Without a doubt, the most fascinating aspect of these shelves is their asymmetric compartments, which makes them look very modern. That, along with their thin pipe-like frames and complete lack of enclosures keeps them from being dull.

This shelf also takes a bare-bones approach and an open design concept which permits us to see right through to the green background.

While our previous example had contemporary appeal and an unusual design, this one is more classy and understated. It uses wood instead of metal pipes but still achieves a unique look through differences in colour, and the upper shelf's diagonal incline makes the structure less predictable.

Had both shelves been flat, stacked one on top the other, or the same colour, they would not be nearly as interesting as what we see here.

This is as creative as shelves get. Obviously the unit resembles a tree, with each compartment forming a separate branch stuffed with books, which is appropriate since books are made from trees and also because knowledge is often associated with trees.

What makes this example so remarkable is its perfect fusion of form and function: the shelf carries out its true purpose of holding items, but its use of tilted, asymmetrical levels and overall design is simply unrivaled.

This silver shelving unit on our right blends perfectly into this very contemporary bathroom. However, what helps it stand out is its placement next to the mirror, which momentarily tricks us into believing that the shelf is actually wider than it appears. A potted plant also adds some welcome warmth and colour to the mix, balancing out the subdued palette of its surroundings.

If your primary ambition is to organize small items and accessories into a single place then this unit pictured above more than meets that goal. It's both wide and tall, offers several large compartments to store things, and its white colour harmonizes with the rest of the home.

In fact, it does such a wonderful job of storing items that there's no visible clutter, thus allowing the room to breathe freely while also easing movement around the table.

Sometimes it's not about how many possessions a unit can hold but the nature of those possessions. Here, we have two very small shelves which contain only a handful of items: a framed picture, potted plant, and a couple of books. While these items may not be important to us, they do reveal the likes and personality of their owner. Furthermore, the combination of an air shelf and one that's rooted to the desk is quite charming, both for their simplicity and uniqueness of design.

Since we're on the topic of unique designs, this final entry really shows off its eccentric and stylish side.

From the double V shapes to the smaller triangles and diagonal planks, this shelf is the essence of cool and creative, of modern and sophisticated. While it manages to hold a few possessions, what makes it so compelling is the aesthetics of form and colour.

There we have it: nine shelves for every home and need. From small and personal to large and spacious, there's a unit out there which fits perfectly into your decor.

Best of all, you don't need to sacrifice form for function—you can have both.